a very bad joke...Election Day...New Jerusalem Church

Friends, Family, and other people,

Well Election day has come and gone. There was widespread rioting and mass looting in the more developed middle-class sections of Phnom Penh. Small fires broke out the damage was not too severe. The military came into the city and marshal law was declared. There was some concern among the short term teams since we are all spread out between three different locations and out of contact with Bill, our host missionary, but then I woke up and realized it was time to get ready for Church. Haha...OK maybe that was a bad joke.
In all seriousness election day passed by quietly and people were going about their business as usual in the city. Websites are saying that this is Cambodia's most peaceful election yet. There were fewer shops open at the Russian Market this afternoon but it was no where near the total shutdown of the city that the missionaries were predicting based on their experience during the last election. No word yet as to how the chips fell but there is little doubt as to which party is going to win. You can read more here.
All 60 of the short termers attended the New Jerusalem Church this morning, we outnumbered the members in attendance by about 3 to 1. Granted fewer people were around since many returned to their home province to vote. But church was good, Bill preached, and we had lots of time to talk to the people afterwards. We met a girl named Da Lin and her brother San Dee. I totally misspelled their names but you can see their picture attached to this email. They will both be attending English Camp so we look forward to spending more time with them.
Speaking of which English Camp starts tomorrow! As I have already mentioned there are 60 (give or take) short termers ready to teach and spend time with the students who will attend the camp. The girls, Emily Nat and Jessica are staying at the student dorm with about 20 other people from Nebraska crammed in there. It has been a bit of a culture shock for them to experience an American environment again after spending the last month adjusting to the culture of Cambodia. Pray for patience and grace as the girls adjust and the Nebraska team adjusts.
As we have mentioned before we are expecting a 60 to 40 ratio of Christian to non-Christian students to attend the camp, pray for open hearts and the opportunity to establish lasting relationships. Emily would like to make a correction, she previously stated that there would be 200 students in attendance but the actual numbers will be somewhere around 120. Either way, we know that everyone whom God wants at this camp will be there.Continue to pray that even outside of English Camp that we will be able to share God's love with those we come in contact with.
I discovered on our way back from the Russian Market that our tuk tuk driver is a Christian and that his wife and two children used to attend the New Jerusalem Church. Since the arrival of their third child about a month ago they haven't been to the Church but it sounds like they have been Christians for a while so I am hopeful that when things settle down at home they will start attending again. Our driver (as I am typing this I realize that I never asked for his name...) said that he does not go to Church often because he is usually working on Sundays. After he dropped us off he asked for 6 dollars instead of the 7 that we agreed on before setting off because we are all part of the family of Jesus Christ. We insisted on giving him 7 and told him that since he made a little extra money that he should show up to church next Sunday. I really hope to be able to talk to him again.
Emily and I have enjoyed the blessing of good health this past week. Please pray that this continues as it will be crucial as English Camp begins. For those of you who are wondering, Emily's spider/random insect bite is completely healed and there is no more swelling or soreness on her hand. Emily is also going to be telling a Bible story during the main group session some time this week, pray that God will use her and speak through her. I think I have to do MC. Bill is really kicking back this time around. Heh.
Internet shop is closing soon, thanks for reading.
Also, many thanks to Rocio and her tireless efforts to keep the team blog updated, for taking these update emails and posting them on the blog. Really appreciate that you continue to partner with us and support us even though we are on the other side of the world! Don't cut out this section when you post it on the blog. (=

Because He loves us,
Jonathan